Pete McGrath and Gary Birch were both trained to be Driving Instructors by the same trainer, who has co-authored a book which has been been used in the recommended syllabus by the Driving Standards Agency. Gary qualified in 1989, and after a short period working with a local driving school, he set up on his own as Crofton Driving School, working in the Orpington area. Pete qualified in 1993, and also worked for himself as Pete McGrath Driving Instruction in the Bromley area. Periodically the Driving Standards Agency retests all driving instructors to check they are maintaining a good standard of teaching, and gives them a grade from 1 (bad) to 6 (very good). We have both always been awarded either grade 5 or 6. 

We found as we met over the years, that we had a very similar attitude to teaching people to drive - striving to provide the best service possible, both in the quality of the teaching, and the enjoyment of the lessons for the pupil. We have both had many pupils from other instructors, who have not had procedures explained properly - how can you remember to do something if you do not understand why you are doing it? Also some had endlessly covered the same subject, and not progressed - you need to feel a sense of achievement and need to work through a syllabus. Others had instructors who finished lessons early, didn't turn up, or shouted at their student!

We decided to start up Red L Driving School to provide an independent local driving school offering quality friendly and reliable instruction - virtually all our pupils come through a recommendation - a fact that proves to us we are doing something right!